It was on 6 December 1924 when the first Salesians arrived in the town in central Sicily, thus beginning a history of education and evangelisation that continues to this day.

The celebrations for this important anniversary began on Friday 6 December with a welcome to Fr Chávez and the Provincial of the Salesians in Sicily (ISI), Fr Giovanni D’Andrea at the Oraotry by the entire Educative and Pastoral Community in the theatre, during which the salient stages of the one hundred years of Salesian presence were retraced, including an address from Fr Chávez on specific topics.

This was followed by a prayer vigil, presided over by the Provincial, to thank the Lord for the gift of the Salesians and the entire Salesian Family (which, over the years, involved 8 Groups) to the city, culminating in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

Saturday, 7 December was also a busy day. It began with a reflection at the Gaetano Saporito Auditorium – made available by the Toniolo BCC at San Cataldo – and focused on the "Relevance of Don Bosco's social message today". The many participants, including various civil and religious authorities, were able to appreciate the rich and profound talks given by Father Massimo Naro, a Sanctaldese priest, ordinary member of the Pontifical Theological Academy and professor at the Theological Faculty of Sicily, on "The urgency of the future: the oratory response to the change of era", and Fr Chávez who focused on "Don Bosco: a social response for young people, yesterday, today and tomorrow". The careful guidance of the event by Prof. Gabriella Sardo, the performance of some pieces by a teacher and three students from the Vincenzo Bellini Conservatory of Music in Caltanissetta, and the expert service of the ‘Euroform’ students from San Cataldo at the concluding supper enriched the event.

The Eucharistic Celebration in the afternoon of the same day at the city's Mother Church was solemn and well attended. Concelebrating with Fr Chávez were Archpriest Fr Alessandro Giambra, the Vice-Provincial of the Salesians in Sicily, Fr Franco Di Natale, the Salesian community of San Cataldo, some Salesians from San Cataldo or who were once in San Cataldo for a few years, and other priests from the local clergy. At the end of the celebration, the Mayor of the City, Joachim Comparato, brought a lamp to the altar and placed it before the relic of Don Bosco. It will burn for the entire centenary year at the church in the Oratory. He also proclaimed the "Act of entrusting the City to St John Bosco".

The centenary celebrations continued on Sunday, 8 December, making an already significant date for the Salesian Family even richer, as it was the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the 183rd bhirthday of the Oratory, in memory of the encounter between Don Bosco and Bartholomew Garelli. After the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr Chávez in a packed church at the oratory, and after refreshments, people moved to the upper courtyard for a prayer to Our Lady and for the blessing of the large murals of Our Lady Help of Christians made by Nisseno artist Mirko Cavallotto, also known as "Loste".

During the morning, a Poste Italiane Pavilion was also set up at the oratory for the special "Celebratory philatelic cancellation" created specifically for the Salesian centenary event.

The Immaculate Conception Academy held on the afternoon of Sunday 8 December was certainly the most beautiful way to conclude this first appointment of a year full of scheduled events. On the stage at the Oratory theatre, already trodden by thousands of young people over a hundred long years, representatives of the different Oratory groups performed, bringing together all age groups in a wonderful show of songs, dances, testimonies and moments of reflection that made one savour the beauty and preciousness of so many children and young people who - as Fr Chávez pointed out in his final message - became ‘protagonists’ of such a beautiful moment.

Before leaving San Cataldo, when meeting with the Salesian community and the centenary commission, Fr Chávez, recalled some words of Don Bosco that must help us understand what the Sanctaldese community is experiencing and celebrating. “Don Bosco said, ‘I've always needed everyone.’ It is not just a matter of lending a hand to be more, or of belonging to a group, which is always very nice, but it is making the experience of Don Bosco's charism our own, feeling that we share responsibility for his mission, identifying with his cause: the good of the young."

And this is exactly what has been experienced in this oratory over recent days, with the involvement of so many, everyone's active involvement, because – as has been repeatedly recalled – the celebration of a centenary marks the opening of a second centenary of the Salesian presence in San Cataldo, to be filled 'with our creative charismatic madness' as the ISI Provincial said."

Luciano Arcarese

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